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Grundy County, Tennessee, Mayor Michael Brady announced late Thursday that two cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in an older couple who live both in Grundy and Davidson counties.
"We have been in contact with our state senator, our state of Tennessee Department of Health, our [Emergency Management Agency and Emergency Medical Services] in regards to a possible coronavirus case in Grundy County, Tennessee," Brady said in a video statement posted on the county's social media page. "As of today, an individual that has a Grundy County residence and a Davidson County residence has been confirmed positive for COVID-19 along with their spouse."
Brady said officials believe anyone who had contact with the infected person has "either been tested or self-quarantined."
The couple are self-quarantined at a location outside of Grundy County, he said.
"It is also believed that this person has had no contact with a Grundy County resident since March 5, 2020," Brady said, adding that officials want "to be transparent and give you the most up-to-date and credible information."
In a telephone interview Friday morning, Brady said the couple was tested and confirmed in Rutherford County but he doesn't know where the case will be tallied.
"We reported the circumstances to the state Department of Health," Brady said. "What they do with the information is out of our hands."
"Laboratory reports of positive cases are reported to metro and local health departments as soon as results are available," Southeast Regional Office of the Tennessee Health Department spokeswoman Amanda Goodhard wrote in an emailed statement. She couldn't provide any information specific to Grundy's couple.
"State numbers are updated at 2pm daily and there may be a lag in the reporting of cumulative numbers at the state level, Goodhard said. "Confirmed cases are tallied by the county of residence that the patient provides their healthcare provider. The only specific information we can provide on cases is the location of the county and an age range for all of the cases."
Bradley County also reported a confirmed case of COVID-19 on Friday bringing the number of confirmed cases in Tennessee counties outside of Hamilton to three, according to state records.
Hamilton County has eight confirmed cases.
In the video statement, Brady said officials are utilizing all resources in the interest of the safety and well-being of county residents and will provide updates as information becomes available.
"We're asking everyone to please practice [social] distancing and common sense hygiene such as washing your hands and not touching your face," Brady said. "And above all things please continue to pray."
Contact Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569. Follow him on Twitter @BenBenton or at www.facebook.com/benbenton1.